Osteopath Network Weybridge

Osteopaths at Osteopath Network Weybridge see patients with many different conditions, two of the more common complaints are discussed below

Migraine

The most common kind of debilitating headache is the migraine which inflict a very intense pain for a period varying from minutes to many hours. In the UK it is understood that almost eight million people have suffered from migraine attacks. Some only rarely but for a minority it can be a regular cause of disabling pain substantially impacting work and family life. Whilst the cause is not well understood doctors note the correlation between attacks and an imbalance of the hormone serotonin. As serotonin can constrict veins and arteries the imbalance can cause the vessels to be become engorged which is the source of the pain. Triggers can again vary but include stress, bright lights, hormonal imbalances (often caused by the menstrual cycle) and even various food types. Cranial osteopaths frequently treat migraine sufferers by working gently to promote improved level of drainage from the veins of the head and neck as well as working to reduce muscle tension at the base of the skull.

Sucking Difficulty

A baby having difficulty feeding may be suffering from a nerve compression. Cranial osteopaths would be quick to look at the area at the base of the skull to determine if the nerve was affected. From an osteopathic perspective, a child that has or had difficulty latching-on to its mother's nipple during the first few weeks after birth is a potential indicator that there may be some compression of an important nerve that controls the tongue. Whilst the sucking problem may clear up after a few days or weeks, the issue of compression of the hypoglossal nerve - or indeed other nerves - may not actually be resolved fully in the intial period after birth. A detailed patient history for a child should certainly cover this issue even if the condition for which treatment is being sought is rather different.